3M Championship offers free admission for every round

BLAINE, Minn. -- Tournament officials with the 3M Championship announced Thursday that the 2009 Champions Tour event on July 10-12 will be free for the public. The tournament is the first-ever free Champions Tour event with free admission, parking and shuttles.

"Giving back is the right thing to do," said Hollis Cavner, tournament director. "We've received such tremendous support from fans and corporate partners over the past 17 years. We are thrilled that we have an opportunity to say thank you and provide this free gift to golf fans."

"3M and its employees are thrilled to be part of this first in golf," said Bob MacDonald, senior vice president, marketing, 3M. "The 3M Championship has a long history of bringing firsts to the game of golf and today's announcement is another example of the tournament's continuing innovation."

The 3M Championship is played at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Twin Cities, a course designed by Hall of Fame golfer and golf course designer Arnold Palmer. Joining Palmer at the 2009 3M Championship will be some of golf's greats including Fred Funk, Lee Trevino, Nick Price, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Hal Sutton and more.

The 3M Championship consistently ranks as one of the top Champions Tour events for crowds and charitable giving. Last year, the 3M Championship was voted the No.1 event on the Champions Tour by the players, earning the coveted Champions Tour Players Award.

The purse for the 2009 3M Championship tournament is $1.75 million with $262,500 going to the winner. The tournament was founded in 1993 as the Burnet Senior Classic.

The first round of 2009 championship play begins Friday, July 10. On Saturday, July 11, the Greats of Golf Challenge begins along with the second round of championship play. The week concludes on Sunday, July 12, with the final round of the Greats of Golf Challenge and the final round of the 3M Championship.